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The U.S. Senate on Friday failed to advance a bill that would have restored pay for hundreds of thousands of federal employees affected by the nation’s longest government shutdown. The measure received 53 votes in favor and 43 against, falling short of the 60 votes needed for approval. The Republican-controlled Senate remained deeply divided as Democrats argued the bill would give President Donald Trump too much control over which workers receive pay during the shutdown.
Three Democratic senators — Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia, and Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico — broke ranks to support the legislation. However, most Democrats opposed it, insisting that any bill to reopen the government must also extend healthcare subsidies for 24 million Americans set to expire by year’s end. Republicans countered that Congress should first approve a funding bill to reopen federal agencies before addressing other issues.
The ongoing shutdown, which began on October 1, has furloughed approximately 750,000 federal employees, forced many others to work without pay, and disrupted key programs such as food assistance and Head Start. Labor unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees, have urged Congress to act swiftly, warning that every missed paycheck pushes federal workers deeper into financial distress.
The economic impact is also spreading beyond Washington, as major U.S. airports brace for possible flight delays due to unpaid air-traffic controllers. Despite growing pressure, lawmakers have yet to agree on a compromise. Some Senate Republicans have floated a temporary reopening plan, while Democrats propose extending healthcare subsidies and forming a bipartisan committee for long-term health reforms.
With no breakthrough in sight, frustration is mounting on both sides. “This shutdown is going to last a long time,” said Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy added, “There’s only one story here — they refuse to negotiate leader to leader.”
